Integrating Instructional Technology
Technology has had a profound effect on the world at large. With this change a reliance on technology has arisen, particularly in the younger generation that does not know a world without this advanced technology. Educators must embrace this advanced technology in their classrooms to more effectively engage their students because students want schools to provide more computer technology while allowing more access to school-based Internet to enhance their learning (Pan & Franklin, 2011). There is a vast amount of instructional technologies available to teachers, but three popular technologies that when implemented will greatly enhance instruction are interactive whiteboards, tablets, and blog sites.
Interactive Whiteboards
Interactive whiteboards offer teachers the ability to enhance the instructional portion of class by combining a chalkboard, an old classroom staple, with a touchscreen computer. Because the large projected screen can be manipulated like a touchscreen, the teacher and students can manipulate contents of the lecture to give students a better understanding of the content through tactile experience. Using the interactive whiteboard as a lecture aid is only the beginning of its classroom use. Creative use of interactive whiteboards can have students using them as a workstation to manipulate virtual shapes, planets, and geography. Interactive whiteboards really shine when elementary teachers incorporate them into mathematics instruction because the manipulation allows for a richness of lesson plan along with collaboration and communication among students (Linder, 2012).
iPad Tablets
Tablets, like the iPad, offer students the connectivity and functionality of a computer, but at a more affordable price. Teachers can have students connect to websites or apps that can aid instruction by placing the Internet at the student’s fingertips. Using iPads, the teacher can take the students on a virtual road trip as part of a geography lesson, stopping at significant locations on the way and having the students research the site and provide information to the class. The teacher can also use the tablets in conjunction with an online, real-time assessment tool like Kahoot! to assess the students comprehension of the lesson content.
Kidblog.org
Kidblog.org is a blog site tailored specifically towards education. Blogs are “ideal for teacher-monitored school projects that involve language arts, cultural learning, history, geography, social studies, science, or communication with friends around the world” (Shelly, Gunter, & Gunter, 2012, p. 221). The teacher controls the publishing experience on kidblog.org, as is the comments on the posts, making it an ideal method of writing instruction. As students learn the writing process of pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, publishing, and reviewing it will be much more rewarding and motivating knowing that their creative work will be available for the world to see.
Pros and Cons of using Technology to Facilitate Learning
The benefits to using technology to facilitate learning are readily apparent when you look at any school-aged child. Students of all grade levels are intensely interested in technology whether it is a social media site, smart phone, an app, or a video game console. Technology in the classroom harnesses this interest into education, using something the student is already drawn to and incorporating it into school. Technology that enhances learning also gives students unique opportunities for creative, independent and self-directed learning (Mishra, Fahnoe, & Henriksen, 2013). This self-directed learning gives students much greater control over their education. Of course it is possible that teachers can use the technology as a crutch, relying on the technology to do much of the work for them instead of actively engaging with the students in their classroom. The possible benefits of instructional technology, though, far outweigh the possible negatives.
Wired and Wireless Classrooms
Wireless classrooms are networked classrooms that use wireless technology to network computers and devices, and connect to the Internet. Wireless technology allows teachers to connect with anyone, including fellow teachers, using a variety of devices, such as a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop with high speed Internet (Shelly, Gunter, & Gunter, 2012). The use of high speed and broadband Internet by wireless technology allows for much faster connection speeds than wired technology. Wired schools on the other hand use telephone lines to network computers and to access the Internet. While accessing the Internet has many benefits for instruction, being wired offers slower connection times and does not allow for a variety of devices. A wireless classroom offers greater creativity for the teacher when planning lessons, giving them freedom to choose devices and websites without the limitations of being stuck to a wire, or slow load times. Students will also find wireless to be just as advantageous and engaging because they can use better technology and do more with it.
Conclusion
The implementation of interactive whiteboards, blogs, and tablets as instructional tools enhances the classroom experience for both students and teachers, making their implementation beneficial to both parties. When considering the creative and innovative opportunities these technologies provide, a whole new set of fun and engaging tools are available in the teacher’s tool box to reach a classroom of students that do not know a world with out this kind of technology. Now that the technology in the classroom has caught up with technology available to students, the teacher now has the right tools for the job of engaging these students. It is up to the teacher to build the right classroom.
References
Linder, S. M. (2012). Interactive whiteboards in early childhood mathematics. YC: Young Children, 67(3), 26-35.
Mishra, P., Fahnoe, C., & Henriksen, D. (2013). Creativity, self-directed learning and the architecture of technology rich environments. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 57(1), 10-13.
Pan, S. C. & Franklin, T. (2011). In-service teachers’ self-efficacy, professional development, and Web 2.0 tools for integration. New Horizons in Education, 59(3), 28-40.
Shelly, G. B., Gunter, G. A., & Gunter, R. E. (2012). Teachers discovering computers: Integrating technology in a connected world (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Technology has had a profound effect on the world at large. With this change a reliance on technology has arisen, particularly in the younger generation that does not know a world without this advanced technology. Educators must embrace this advanced technology in their classrooms to more effectively engage their students because students want schools to provide more computer technology while allowing more access to school-based Internet to enhance their learning (Pan & Franklin, 2011). There is a vast amount of instructional technologies available to teachers, but three popular technologies that when implemented will greatly enhance instruction are interactive whiteboards, tablets, and blog sites.
Interactive Whiteboards
Interactive whiteboards offer teachers the ability to enhance the instructional portion of class by combining a chalkboard, an old classroom staple, with a touchscreen computer. Because the large projected screen can be manipulated like a touchscreen, the teacher and students can manipulate contents of the lecture to give students a better understanding of the content through tactile experience. Using the interactive whiteboard as a lecture aid is only the beginning of its classroom use. Creative use of interactive whiteboards can have students using them as a workstation to manipulate virtual shapes, planets, and geography. Interactive whiteboards really shine when elementary teachers incorporate them into mathematics instruction because the manipulation allows for a richness of lesson plan along with collaboration and communication among students (Linder, 2012).
iPad Tablets
Tablets, like the iPad, offer students the connectivity and functionality of a computer, but at a more affordable price. Teachers can have students connect to websites or apps that can aid instruction by placing the Internet at the student’s fingertips. Using iPads, the teacher can take the students on a virtual road trip as part of a geography lesson, stopping at significant locations on the way and having the students research the site and provide information to the class. The teacher can also use the tablets in conjunction with an online, real-time assessment tool like Kahoot! to assess the students comprehension of the lesson content.
Kidblog.org
Kidblog.org is a blog site tailored specifically towards education. Blogs are “ideal for teacher-monitored school projects that involve language arts, cultural learning, history, geography, social studies, science, or communication with friends around the world” (Shelly, Gunter, & Gunter, 2012, p. 221). The teacher controls the publishing experience on kidblog.org, as is the comments on the posts, making it an ideal method of writing instruction. As students learn the writing process of pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, publishing, and reviewing it will be much more rewarding and motivating knowing that their creative work will be available for the world to see.
Pros and Cons of using Technology to Facilitate Learning
The benefits to using technology to facilitate learning are readily apparent when you look at any school-aged child. Students of all grade levels are intensely interested in technology whether it is a social media site, smart phone, an app, or a video game console. Technology in the classroom harnesses this interest into education, using something the student is already drawn to and incorporating it into school. Technology that enhances learning also gives students unique opportunities for creative, independent and self-directed learning (Mishra, Fahnoe, & Henriksen, 2013). This self-directed learning gives students much greater control over their education. Of course it is possible that teachers can use the technology as a crutch, relying on the technology to do much of the work for them instead of actively engaging with the students in their classroom. The possible benefits of instructional technology, though, far outweigh the possible negatives.
Wired and Wireless Classrooms
Wireless classrooms are networked classrooms that use wireless technology to network computers and devices, and connect to the Internet. Wireless technology allows teachers to connect with anyone, including fellow teachers, using a variety of devices, such as a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop with high speed Internet (Shelly, Gunter, & Gunter, 2012). The use of high speed and broadband Internet by wireless technology allows for much faster connection speeds than wired technology. Wired schools on the other hand use telephone lines to network computers and to access the Internet. While accessing the Internet has many benefits for instruction, being wired offers slower connection times and does not allow for a variety of devices. A wireless classroom offers greater creativity for the teacher when planning lessons, giving them freedom to choose devices and websites without the limitations of being stuck to a wire, or slow load times. Students will also find wireless to be just as advantageous and engaging because they can use better technology and do more with it.
Conclusion
The implementation of interactive whiteboards, blogs, and tablets as instructional tools enhances the classroom experience for both students and teachers, making their implementation beneficial to both parties. When considering the creative and innovative opportunities these technologies provide, a whole new set of fun and engaging tools are available in the teacher’s tool box to reach a classroom of students that do not know a world with out this kind of technology. Now that the technology in the classroom has caught up with technology available to students, the teacher now has the right tools for the job of engaging these students. It is up to the teacher to build the right classroom.
References
Linder, S. M. (2012). Interactive whiteboards in early childhood mathematics. YC: Young Children, 67(3), 26-35.
Mishra, P., Fahnoe, C., & Henriksen, D. (2013). Creativity, self-directed learning and the architecture of technology rich environments. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 57(1), 10-13.
Pan, S. C. & Franklin, T. (2011). In-service teachers’ self-efficacy, professional development, and Web 2.0 tools for integration. New Horizons in Education, 59(3), 28-40.
Shelly, G. B., Gunter, G. A., & Gunter, R. E. (2012). Teachers discovering computers: Integrating technology in a connected world (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.